Jail sentence, freedom on same day over police assault

A man who admitted to assaulting a lone Kawhia police
officer has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

But having already served his time Jackie Maikuku will be
released from jail later today, a court has heard.

Maikuku, 21, of Kawhia this morning pleaded guilty to assault
with intent to obstruct a police officer executing his duty.

The charge relates to an incident in Kawhia on January 11
last year involving local constable Perry Griffin who tried
to arrest Maikuku.

A charge of assault with intent to injure police was
withdrawn.

An agreed summary of facts read out in court revealed Mr
Griffin was off-duty and fishing with his son at the Kawhia
wharf when he saw an intoxicated and disorderly Maikuku also
at the wharf with a friend.

Mr Griffin went home and changed into his uniform before
returning to arrest Maikuku on an outstanding warrant when
the matter unfolded.

In sentencing Maikuku Judge David Ruth said he had already
served his nine months having been in custody since the
incident.

He said he would be released from prison this afternoon.

"I sincerely hope you and your community can get on and put
all of this behind you," said Judge Ruth.

Outside of court Maikuku's father, Jackie Maikuku snr said
his family were awaiting the outcome of an investigation into
the matter that will be presented to the Independent Police
Conduct Authority.

He said his son was looking forward to returning to the
community but said he would be staying away from Mr Griffin
and would try to stay out of trouble.

Constable Griffin said he remains committed to policing the
Kawhia region, and today's change of plea would allow himself
and the Kawhia community to move forward.

"The support shown not only to me - but also to my family
through what was a quite a difficult ordeal - by firstly the
Kawhia community, the wider police family and to a large
number of people from around the country was quite humbling
to experience and has helped our family cement our ties
here,'' he said in a statement.

"Having said that, in the spirit of moving forward we would
like to close this chapter on our lives and request that our
privacy be respected in relation to this matter.''

Western Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Paul Carpenter,
said he was with another area supervisor in the Hamilton
District Court today to support Constable Griffin.

"From a police perspective this vindicates the whole of
police support shown to our colleague and the quite
considerable support shown not just by the Kawhia community
but from people from around the country,'' Mr Carpenter said.